This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

List of Wim Wenders Movies: Ranked Best To Worst

1. The Salt of the Earth (2014)
22
6
The Salt of the Earth
PG-13
22
6

The Salt of the Earth is a biographical documentary film which revolves around the life and work of Sebastião Salgado, who had  spent four decades documenting depraved and hidden societies in various parts of Africa and South America. Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, his son, takes a look at his father’s life and career.

Starring:
Sebastião Salgado, Lélia Wanick Salgado, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, Hugo Barbier
Directed By:
Wim Wenders, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado
2. Paris, Texas (1984)
69
16
Paris, Texas
R
69
16

A vagabond named Travis Henderson walks out of the West Texas desert and is reunited with his brother Walt. Travis has been missing for four years, and Walt has adopted Travis’s son Hunter as his mother Jane is also missing. As Travis starts reconnecting with his son, the two go on a cross-country trip to find Jane.

Starring:
Harry Dean Stanton, Nastassja Kinski, Dean Stockwell, Aurore Clément, Hunter Carson
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
Awards:
BAFTA Award for Best Direction
3. Wings of Desire (1987)
49
12
Wings of Desire
PG-13
49
12

Damiel and Cassiel are two angels who are gliding through the streets of Berlin, while observing its population. Damiel soon falls for a lonely trapeze artist named Marion, and wishes to experience life in the physical world. He soon learns that although it might be possible to become a human, there is no guarantee that he will be able to locate her, or that she will have the same feelings for him.

Starring:
Peter Falk, Bruno Ganz, Curt Bois, Solveig Dommartin, Otto Sander
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
4. Alice in the Cities (1974)
16
4
Alice in the Cities
16
4

While residing in another country, Philip, a German writer faces writers block. Therefore, he decides to move back to his country. His life however, takes a turn after he befriends a woman named Lisa, and her young daughter Alice. Lisa leaves Alice in the care of Philip, but the next day, she seems to have disappeared. Therefore, Philip tries to find Alice’s grandmother, but problem is that she neither remembers her name or her address.

Starring:
Rüdiger Vogler, Lisa Kreuzer, Edda Köchl, Yella Rottländer
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
5. Kings of the Road (1976)
11
4
Kings of the Road
11
4
Starring:
Rudolf Schündler, Rüdiger Vogler, Lisa Kreuzer, Hanns Zischler
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
6. Buena Vista Social Club (1999)
19
8
Buena Vista Social Club
G
19
8

After the takeover by Fidel Castro over Cuba, multiple Cuban musicians are virtually forgotten. However, a famed guitarist named Ry Cooder, and his son Joachim, travel to Cuba, and assemble a troupe consisting of the finest musicians in the country, to record an album. After the troupe is ready, they travel to the United States.

Starring:
Eliades Ochoa, Compay Segundo, Ry Cooder, Joachim Cooder, Ibrahim Ferrer
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
7. Pina (2011)
16
8
Pina
PG
16
8

Pina is a documentary film which was meant to be a tribute to Pina Bausch, German choreographer and her well-known dance troupe. The film also includes performances of some of their most famous creations.

Starring:
Pina Bausch, Regina Advento, Malou Airaudo, Ruth Amarante, Jorge Puerta
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
8. Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter (1990)
8
6
Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter
8
6
Starring:
David Byrne, Afrika Bambaataa, Bono, Neneh Cherry, Adam Clayton
Directed By:
9. The American Friend (1977)
18
5
The American Friend
18
5

Tom earns a living by dealing in forged art, but in order to earn some extra cash, he decides to take part in a murder plot. All he needs to do is find a potential gunman who will not talk. He soon meets Jonathan, who seems to be the perfect choice, as he is dying from cancer and wants to leave an inheritance for his family.

Starring:
Dennis Hopper, Bruno Ganz, Nicholas Ray, Gérard Blain
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
10. The Soul of a Man (2003)
8
5
The Soul of a Man
8
5
Starring:
Chris Thomas King, Keith B. Brown, James Hughes, David F. Hughes, Shayne Tingle
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
11. Tokyo-Ga (1985)
9
5
Tokyo-Ga
9
5
Starring:
Werner Herzog, Chris Marker, Chishû Ryû, Yûharu Atsuta
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
12. In weiter Ferne, so nah! (1993)
13
4
In weiter Ferne, so nah!
PG-13
13
4

Cassiel and Raphaella are two angels who observe the busy life around Berlin. Cassiel gets involved with the life of an 11-year-old girl whom he believes might be in some sort of trouble. However, things get complicated when he is detained by the police.

Starring:
Willem Dafoe, Nastassja Kinski, Peter Falk, Bruno Ganz, Horst Buchholz, Mikhail Gorbachev
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
13. Lisbon Story (1994)
11
4
Lisbon Story
PG
11
4
Starring:
Patrick Bauchau, Rüdiger Vogler, Canto e Castro, Vasco Sequeira, Viriato Jose da Silva
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
14. Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet (2002)
8
3
Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet
8
3
Starring:
Kati Outinen, Markku Peltola, Marko Haavisto, Ana Sofia Liaño, Pelayo Suarez
Directed By:
15. Lumière et compagnie (1995)
8
4
Lumière et compagnie
8
4
Starring:
Romane Bohringer, Youssef Chahine, Merzak Allouache, Jeffe Alperi, Theodoros Angelopoulos
16. The State of Things (1982)
9
4
The State of Things
9
4
Starring:
Roger Corman, Patrick Bauchau, Isabelle Weingarten, Jeffrey Kime
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
17. Wrong Move (1975)
9
4
Wrong Move
9
4
Starring:
Nastassja Kinski, Hans Christian Blech, Hanna Schygulla, Rüdiger Vogler, Peter Kern
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
18. Cathedrals of Culture (2014)
7
3
Cathedrals of Culture
7
3
Starring:
Meret Becker, Gennadi Vengerov, Benedicte C. Westin, Jonas Salk, Louis Khan
Directed By:
19. Until the End of the World (1991)
12
5
Until the End of the World
R
12
5

Until the End of the World is a science fiction action drama film which tells the story of Dr Farber, who has managed to create a device that allows the blind to see. This allows him to find the cure for his wife’s blindness. However, they are soon pursued by government forces.  

Starring:
Lois Chiles, Sam Neill, Jeanne Moreau, Max von Sydow, Tom Waits
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
20. Chacun son cinéma ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumière s'éteint et que le film commence (2007)
9
4
Chacun son cinéma ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumière s'éteint et que le film commence
9
4

This anthology film is a collection of 33 different short films, where the directors expresses their ideas and feelings regarding cinema.

Starring:
David Cronenberg, Isabelle Adjani, Lars von Trier, Josh Brolin, Bradley Walsh, Takeshi Kitano, Jeanne Moreau
21. Die Gebrüder Skladanowsky (1995)
7
3
Die Gebrüder Skladanowsky
7
3
Starring:
Udo Kier, Stefan Barber, Wiebke Bayer, Nadine Büttner
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
22. Lightning Over Water (1980)
7
3
Lightning Over Water
7
3
Starring:
Pierre Cottrell, Ronee Blakley, Gerry Bamman, Stefan Czapsky, Mitch Dubin
Directed By:
Nicholas Ray, Wim Wenders
23. Don't Come Knocking (2005)
9
5
Don't Come Knocking
R
9
5

Howard Spence is an aging cowboy who decides to desert the film he is working on, and instead try to reconnect with his mother, whom he has not met for three decades. He falls into a great depression and nearly becomes suicidal upon learning about his child he never knew about. However, this gives him a reason to keep living.

Starring:
Eva Marie Saint, Marley Shelton, Sam Shepard, George Harris Kennedy, Jr, Jessica Lange, Tim Roth, James Roday
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
24. The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick (1972)
7
3
The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick
7
3
Starring:
Kai Fischer, Erika Pluhar, Arthur Brauss, Libgart Schwarz
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
25. Willie Nelson at the Teatro (1998)
6
3
Willie Nelson at the Teatro
6
3
Starring:
Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Daniel Lanois, Bobby Nelson, Mickey Raphael
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
26. Room 666 (1982)
6
3
Room 666
6
3
Starring:
Michelangelo Antonioni, Maroun Bagdadi, Mike De Leon, Ana Carolina
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
27. Invisibles (2007)
6
3
Invisibles
6
3
Starring:
Lia Chapman, Isabelle Stoffel
Directed By:
Wim Wenders, Isabel Coixet, Mariano Barroso, Javier Corcuera
28. Kaspar Hauser (1969)
6
3
Kaspar Hauser
6
3
Directed By:
Wim Wenders, Michael Hild, Urs Aebersold, Ingemo Engström
29. Al di là delle nuvole (1995)
8
5
Al di là delle nuvole
8
5

Al di là delle nuvole (Beyond the Clouds) is a romantic drama film which tells the story of a filmmaker who is looking for inspiration for his next project. As he travels through France and Italy, he observes the relationships of a few young couples. 

Starring:
Sophie Marceau, Jean Reno, John Malkovich, Marcello Mastroianni, Jeanne Moreau, Irène Jacob, Fanny Ardant
30. Land of Plenty (2004)
7
4
Land of Plenty
7
4
Starring:
Gloria Stuart, Richard Edson, John Diehl, Wendell Pierce, Shaun Toub
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
31. Hammett (1982)
7
4
Hammett
PG
7
4
Starring:
Marilu Henner, Frederic Forrest, Elisha Cook Jr., Peter Boyle, Roy Kinnear
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
32. Notebook on Cities and Clothes (1989)
6
3
Notebook on Cities and Clothes
6
3
Starring:
Yohji Yamamoto
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
33. Pope Francis: A Man of His Word (2018)
7
4
Pope Francis: A Man of His Word
PG
7
4
Starring:
Joe Biden, Pope Francis, Paul Ryan, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, John Kerry
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
34. Palermo Shooting (2008)
6
4
Palermo Shooting
6
4
Starring:
Dennis Hopper, Inga Busch, Campino, Axel Sichrovsky, Gerhard Gutberlet
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
35. Mundo Invisível (2012)
5
3
Mundo Invisível
5
3
Starring:
Gian Vittorio Baldi, Sônia Braga, Ashot Adamyan, Leon Cakoff, Jupiter Apple
Directed By:
Gian Vittorio Baldi, Wim Wenders, Atom Egoyan, Theodoros Angelopoulos, Marco Bechis
36. The Scarlet Letter (1973)
5
3
The Scarlet Letter
5
3
Starring:
Senta Berger, Hans Christian Blech, Alfredo Mayo, Lou Castel, Yelena Samarina
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
37. Summer in the City (1971)
5
3
Summer in the City
5
3
Starring:
Hanns Zischler, Edda Köchl, Libgart Schwarz, Marie Bardischewski
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
38. The Million Dollar Hotel (2000)
13
10
The Million Dollar Hotel
R
13
10

The Million Dollar Hotel is a mystery drama film which revolves around an FBI agent who investigates the death of a billionaire’s son after he is found dead in an old hotel.

Starring:
Milla Jovovich, Donal Logue, Amanda Plummer, Tim Roth, Peter Stormare, Jimmy Smits, Gloria Stuart
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
39. 8 (2008)
5
4
8
5
4
Starring:
Hringur Ingvarsson, Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson, Alice Englert, Nigist Anteneh, Tefera Gizaw
Directed By:
Wim Wenders, Mira Nair, Gus Van Sant, Jane Campion, Jan Kounen
40. The End of Violence (1997)
6
5
The End of Violence
R
6
5

Producer Mike Max has made a huge amount of money in his life through his violent and gory action films. However, his life takes a turn when shortly after his wife decides to leave him, he is kidnapped by a group of thugs. This causes him to reexamine his life. He is soon able to find shelter with a group of gardeners, and he eventually decides to drop out of Hollywood.  

Starring:
Udo Kier, Gabriel Byrne, Bill Pullman, Andie MacDowell, Rosalind Chao
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
41. Every Thing Will Be Fine (2015)
6
5
Every Thing Will Be Fine
6
5

Everything Will be Fine is a drama film which tells the story of a struggling writer, who drives around aimlessly after a domestic quarrel. However, he accidentally hits and runs over a child. Although he is legally innocent, the accident traumatizes him so badly for the next twelve years that whenever he looks into the mirror, he sees a murderer. Despite this, he struggles to make sense of what occurred.  

Starring:
Charlotte Gainsbourg, James Franco, Rachel McAdams, Patrick Bauchau, Peter Stormare, Peter Miller, Gilbert Wahiakeron
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
42. Submergence (2017)
7
6
Submergence
7
6
Starring:
James McAvoy, Alicia Vikander, Alexander Siddig, Celyn Jones, Reda Kateb
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
43. Ode to Cologne: A Rock 'N' Roll Film (2002)
4
3
Ode to Cologne: A Rock 'N' Roll Film
4
3
Starring:
Heinrich Böll, Marie Bäumer, Wolfgang Niedecken, Wolf Biermann, Sheryl Hackett
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
44. Les beaux jours d'Aranjuez (2016)
3
4
Les beaux jours d'Aranjuez
3
4
Starring:
Peter Handke, Jens Harzer, Nick Cave, Reda Kateb, Sophie Semin
Directed By:
Wim Wenders

TV Shows

U2: The Best of 1990-2000 (2002)
16
3
U2: The Best of 1990-2000
16
3
Starring:
William S. Burroughs, Bono, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr., The Edge
Directed By:
Wim Wenders, Kevin Godley, Anton Corbijn, Bill Carter
Cinéma cinémas
6
3
Cinéma cinémas
6
3
Starring:
Jean-Luc Godard, Alain Delon, Jean-Pierre Mocky, Jean-Claude Dauphin, Michel Boujut
Directed By:
Ein Haus für uns
4
3
Ein Haus für uns
4
3
Starring:
Lisa Kreuzer, Wolfgang Höper, Nicolas Brieger, Thomas Brant
Directed By:
Wim Wenders

Narrator/Dubbing

The Salt of the Earth (2014)
19
4
The Salt of the Earth
PG-13
19
4

The Salt of the Earth is a biographical documentary film which revolves around the life and work of Sebastião Salgado, who had  spent four decades documenting depraved and hidden societies in various parts of Africa and South America. Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, his son, takes a look at his father’s life and career.

Role:
Self - Narrator
Starring:
Sebastião Salgado, Lélia Wanick Salgado, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, Hugo Barbier
Directed By:
Wim Wenders, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado

Special Appearance/Cameo

Alice in the Cities (1974)
15
4
Alice in the Cities
15
4

While residing in another country, Philip, a German writer faces writers block. Therefore, he decides to move back to his country. His life however, takes a turn after he befriends a woman named Lisa, and her young daughter Alice. Lisa leaves Alice in the care of Philip, but the next day, she seems to have disappeared. Therefore, Philip tries to find Alice’s grandmother, but problem is that she neither remembers her name or her address.

Role:
Man by Jukebox in American Cafe (uncredited)
Starring:
Rüdiger Vogler, Lisa Kreuzer, Edda Köchl, Yella Rottländer
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
Kings of the Road (1976)
11
3
Kings of the Road
11
3
Role:
Spectator at Pauline's Theater (uncredited)
Starring:
Rudolf Schündler, Rüdiger Vogler, Lisa Kreuzer, Hanns Zischler
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
The American Friend (1977)
15
5
The American Friend
15
5

Tom earns a living by dealing in forged art, but in order to earn some extra cash, he decides to take part in a murder plot. All he needs to do is find a potential gunman who will not talk. He soon meets Jonathan, who seems to be the perfect choice, as he is dying from cancer and wants to leave an inheritance for his family.

Role:
Figure Wrapped in Plaster Bandages in Ambulance (uncredited)
Starring:
Dennis Hopper, Bruno Ganz, Nicholas Ray, Gérard Blain
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
The State of Things (1982)
8
3
The State of Things
8
3
Role:
Tram passenger (uncredited)
Starring:
Roger Corman, Patrick Bauchau, Isabelle Weingarten, Jeffrey Kime
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick (1972)
7
3
The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick
7
3
Role:
Man Walking through Vienna Bus Station (uncredited)
Starring:
Kai Fischer, Erika Pluhar, Arthur Brauss, Libgart Schwarz
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
Summer in the City (1971)
5
3
Summer in the City
5
3
Role:
Billardspieler (uncredited)
Starring:
Hanns Zischler, Edda Köchl, Libgart Schwarz, Marie Bardischewski
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
The Million Dollar Hotel (2000)
13
10
The Million Dollar Hotel
R
13
10

The Million Dollar Hotel is a mystery drama film which revolves around an FBI agent who investigates the death of a billionaire’s son after he is found dead in an old hotel.

Role:
(uncredited)
Starring:
Milla Jovovich, Donal Logue, Amanda Plummer, Tim Roth, Peter Stormare, Jimmy Smits, Gloria Stuart
Directed By:
Wim Wenders

Movies (Actor)

1. Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet (2002)
32
13
Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet
32
13
Starring:
Kati Outinen, Markku Peltola, Marko Haavisto, Ana Sofia Liaño, Pelayo Suarez
Directed By:
2. Room 666 (1982)
16
9
Room 666
16
9
Role:
Himself
Starring:
Michelangelo Antonioni, Maroun Bagdadi, Mike De Leon, Ana Carolina
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
3. Long Shot (1978)
6
4
Long Shot
6
4
Starring:
Alan Bennett, Stephen Frears, Neville Smith, John Boorman, Stephen Frears
Directed By:
Maurice Hatton
4. Die Gebrüder Skladanowsky (1995)
12
5
Die Gebrüder Skladanowsky
12
5
Starring:
Udo Kier, Stefan Barber, Wiebke Bayer, Nadine Büttner
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
5. King Kongs Faust (1985)
8
4
King Kongs Faust
8
4
Starring:
Liv Ullmann, Wolfgang Längsfeld, Leonard Lansink, Werner Grassmann
Directed By:
Heiner Stadler
6. Notebook on Cities and Clothes (1989)
13
7
Notebook on Cities and Clothes
13
7
Role:
Himself
Starring:
Yohji Yamamoto
Directed By:
Wim Wenders
7. Helsinki-Naples All Night Long (1987)
10
6
Helsinki-Naples All Night Long
10
6
Starring:
Jim Jarmusch, Nino Manfredi, Kari Väänänen, Roberta Manfredi
Directed By:
Mika Kaurismäki
8. Hitler in Hollywood (2010)
7
5
Hitler in Hollywood
7
5
Starring:
Emir Kusturica, Nathalie Baye, Michael Lonsdale, Micheline Presle
Directed By:
Frédéric Sojcher
9. Liebe und so weiter (1968)
5
4
Liebe und so weiter
5
4
Starring:
Vera Tschechowa, Vadim Glowna, Claudia Bremer, Rolf Zacher
Directed By:
George Moorse
10. Tausend Augen (1984)
5
5
Tausend Augen
5
5
Starring:
Armin Mueller-Stahl, Karin Baal, Hannelore Hoger, Peter Kraus
Directed By:
Hans-Christoph Blumenberg
11. Neues Deutschland (1993)
4
4
Neues Deutschland
4
4
Starring:
Heino Ferch, Daniel Graf, Joachim Król, Nina Franoszek
Directed By:
Uwe Janson, Philip Gröning, Gerd Kroske
12. Snowblind (2010)
4
6
Snowblind
4
6
Starring:
Jana Pallaske, Robert Lyons, Mala Ghedia, Erik Hansen
Directed By:
Kilian Manning

Wim Wenders Awards

BAFTA Awards
Paris, Texas Best Direction 1985